Moses’ Other Names: A Clue to the Biblical Exodus During Egypt’s Civil War?
Did an historical event give rise to the story of the Exodus? A story told by the ancient historian Josephus may provide some clues.
The (Historical) Origin of God
March 2021 | Vol. 9.3 By Theodore J. Lewis When a historian of Israelite religion talks of the origin of God, she certainly doesn’t mean ontology. Proofs for the existence of God
From Sinner to Model Ancestor: King David in Post-Biblical Jewish and Christian Literature and Art
King David was a sinner, but post-Biblical Jews and Christians transformed him into a hero. These changes tell us as much about competition between the two as they do about evolvin
Translating Job as Befits a Great Ancient Work
No biblical text challenges the interpreter more than the Book of Job, with its unusual vocabulary, phrases, and grammar. Translating Job requires an equally unusual range of skill
How Old is the Hebrew Bible?
Is the Bible as old as Moses or as young as the Hellenistic period? A new book argues that looking closely at Biblical language and context suggests many ‘ages.’
Writing and Rewriting the Story of Solomon in Ancient Israel
The Bible regards Solomon as the greatest and wisest of kings. But which Solomon are we talking about, that of Samuel-Kings or Chronicles? And which is closer to ‘history’?
Where Does Yhwh Come From?
The God of the Hebrew Bible is universal, but everyone – and every idea - comes from someone. What does a close reading of sources both within and outside of the Bible suggest ab